We knew it when we first met Luca seven years ago:, this man would go far!
And indeed, as his fame is growing, recognition arrives, this year at Sofa 2013. His series of Porcelain rings has been awarded a prize by David McFadden curator of MAD ( Museum of Art and Design, New York) http://madmuseum.org Congratulations!

Luca has started to teach at La Meridiana seven years ago. Students love him and his generous teaching and do go home with their creations, but more importantly, with a series set of new techniques and ideas that ignite long lasting inspiration.
Topics taught over the years include raku and pit firing techniques, crystalline glazes, paperclay, jewellery and most recently a course designed to learn a load of surface techniques, thoroughly developed by Luca for use on functional or abstract ware, sculpture and jewellery.

Every year it’s a puzzle to put together a workshop programme which reflects the breadth and with of possibilities of working in clay. Suggestions and recommendations for finding the best instructors come many sources: students, images, encounters, shows and relations built over time. Some instructors return several times, as esteem and friendship develop, then again there are new instructors, strong ceramicists that are available to convey their knowledge and skill to our students. And there is a balance in the thematic: long time runners are throwing courses, as it is the truly genuine expression of Pietro Maddaenas’s foundation, the fascination that has brought him to become a potter and eventually to realize a vision, the vision of a facility dedicated to education in ceramics. A lot of innovation is going on continuously in ceramics, of which the introduction of cellulose into clay bodies – paperclay – is one of the most exciting ones, having opened up enormous possibilities of range in thickness – better say thinness- and form.

Happy therefore to announce the possibility to study different aspects of Paperclay in 2014!A Sculptural approach to the use of paperclay will be taught by Rebecca Hutchinson an installation artist and clay professor. That’s what she says about the workshop:
We will explore paper clay as a sculptural medium. Demonstrations will include clay preparation, sculptural building techniques for using paper clay, surface and color, firing and non-firing options; all to achieve qualities of translucency, weightlessness, scale and sculptural building ease. Participants will be encouraged to develop individual ideas and conceptual directions. The workshop will be balanced between demo watching and studio construction time. All skill levels are welcome. http://www.rebeccahutchinson.com

Date:
June 22nd – 28th 2014

Cost: € 960
The workshop fee includes the following:

• Tuition (class is 6/7 hours per day with 2 hours studio time)
• Materials and firings
• Lodging in double room; single room on request at extra cost of 140 €
• Welcome dinner and welcome breakfast
• A freshly prepared full Tuscan lunch with wine on all working days

For further information and sign up please contact info@lameridiana.fi.it
Curious to learn more about paperclay?